Newsline: Ambassador posts given to political allies in Indonesia

August 9, 2015 at 8:23 am · Filed under Uncategorized and tagged: Indonesia

A classified document directed to the House of Representatives reveals that at least one-third of 33 ambassador candidates selected by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo are political appointees. The document shows that at least 13 of the 33 ambassadorial posts were given to political allies and figures from groups who were believed to have supported him in last year’s presidential election. Among the individuals on the list are Helmy Fauzi, Maj. Gen. (ret.) M. Luthfie Wittoeng and Amelia Ahmad Yani. Helmy is a former House lawmaker from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and member of Jokowi’s selection team, while Luthfie is a former Marine and politician from the National Awakening Party (PKB), which is a member of the ruling coalition. Amelia, meanwhile, is the daughter of national hero Gen. Achmad Yani and chairwoman of the National People’s Concern Party (PPRN), which many consider an ally of the PDI-P. Helmy has been assigned to the ambassadorial post in Egypt, while Luthfie and Amelia are to be posted in Venezuela and Bosnia-Herzegovina, respectively.